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(LUSAKATIMES) World Bank executive directors to visit Zambia

World Bank executive directors to visit Zambia
Time Posted: February 17, 2013 6:15 pm

The World Bank recognises Zambia’s steady economic growth and the country’s desire to fully attain Middle Income Status by 2030.

To this effect, a nine-man delegation of Word Bank Executive Directors is scheduled to visit Zambia today as part of their familiarization with developmental opportunities, ongoing projects, and implementation challenges the country faces.

According to a statement from World Bank communications specialist Jumbe Ngoma and Ministry of Finance public relations officer Chileshe Kandeta, the team would also make an on the spot assessment of how well the Bank could be more responsive.

Speaking on behalf of other Executive Directors ahead of their arrival, Overall Coordinator of the group Ruud Treffers, said the delegation was in Zambia to learn first hand the key priorities that would contribute to the country’s development objectives.

“We are therefore coming to Zambia to learn first-hand from Government and the people of Zambia about the country’s key priorities, challenges and opportunities that will contribute to the country achieving its development objectives,” he said.

Commenting on the visit of the 19-man delegation, Secretary to the Treasury Fredson Yamba said the World Bank, with which Zambia enjoys a warm partnership in development, has been an all-weather friend.

“We are pleased by the confidence the World Bank Executive Directors have shown by coming to Zambia so that they see for themselves the immense opportunities at our disposal and the difference the Bank’s work could make in accelerating delivery of outcomes that will effectively touch the lives of our people through employment creation and poverty reduction,” he said.

While in Zambia, the Executive Directors will hold developmental talks with the Government with scheduled meetings with Vice-President Guy Scott and Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda, the private sector, and other stakeholders.

The team will also visit several World Bank funded projects including the Kalingalinga Water and Sanitation Project, the Zambeef-Novatek Project, Choma Dairy Association, the Mukuni Park Trust and the One Stop Shop in Livingstone.

The delegation would also visit Kaleya Small Holdings in Mazabuka to learn how small-scale farmers are utilizing private sector service providers, as well as irrigation development.

The team would also visit the communities of Sekute Resettlement in Namapande, Kazungula, who were displaced by floods along the banks of the Zambezi River.

The Executive Directors are part of the 25-member Board of the World Bank Group which oversees the general operations of the global development institution.

The Executive Directors of the World Bank Group represent the interests of member countries to the Bank’s Board and the Bank’s Management, as well as the interests of the Bank to the country or group of countries that we represent.

They are also responsible for the conduct of the general operations of the Bank.

The team would be led by Mr. Denny Kalyalya representing Zambia, Botswana, Burundi, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia (informally), South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The delegation comprises: Mr. Piero Cipollone representing Italy, Albania, Greece, Malta, Portugal, San Marino and Timor-Leste; Mr. Mansur Muhtar representing Nigeria, Angola and South Africa; Mr. Ian Solomon representing the United States of America; Mr. Roberto Tan representing The Philippines, Brazil, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.

Others are Mr Treffers representing the Netherlands, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Georgia, Israel, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania and Ukraine.

The rest are Mr. John Whitehead representing Australia, Cambodia, Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Mongolia, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu; Mr. Bin Han representing China; and Mr. Wilhelm Rissmann representing Germany.

Labels: World Bank

posted by MrK @ 2:18 PM